Banana Bread - Amped Up
We've all made banana bread, right? Funky brown nanners in the fruit bowl just begging to be smashed and baked into sweet goodness.
Plain old regular banana bread is fine. But BOY there are some great things to add and change to make a really yummy, moderately healthy and family-pleasing loaf. So get out a really big bowl, a wooden spoon, and turn on your music. If you have the inkling, let the kids help. Otherwise, boot them out to play in the snow, they need the fresh air and exercise.
This recipe makes two loaves, which is the smallest amount I'd make for my brood. Feel free to halve the recipe for one regular loaf.
Sassy Banana Bread
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
4 eggs
2/3 cup hot water
2 cups mashed bananas, about 4 large bananas
1/2 cup coconut flakes
2 cups whole wheat flour
2 cups unbleached white flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped pecans (or walnuts)
Preheat oven to 350. Butter two 9 inch loaf pans. In a large bowl, using a wooden spoon, beat together the butter and sugars. Beat in the eggs. Stir in the hot water and mashed bananas. Add coconut, flours, salt and soda, stir until combined. Stir in the chocolate chips and nuts. Pour into prepared pans. Bake at 350 for 70-80 minutes, until the cracks on the top look dry and/or a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then turn out onto a rack and cool completely. Freezes great!
Plain old regular banana bread is fine. But BOY there are some great things to add and change to make a really yummy, moderately healthy and family-pleasing loaf. So get out a really big bowl, a wooden spoon, and turn on your music. If you have the inkling, let the kids help. Otherwise, boot them out to play in the snow, they need the fresh air and exercise.
This recipe makes two loaves, which is the smallest amount I'd make for my brood. Feel free to halve the recipe for one regular loaf.
Sassy Banana Bread
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
4 eggs
2/3 cup hot water
2 cups mashed bananas, about 4 large bananas
1/2 cup coconut flakes
2 cups whole wheat flour
2 cups unbleached white flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped pecans (or walnuts)
Preheat oven to 350. Butter two 9 inch loaf pans. In a large bowl, using a wooden spoon, beat together the butter and sugars. Beat in the eggs. Stir in the hot water and mashed bananas. Add coconut, flours, salt and soda, stir until combined. Stir in the chocolate chips and nuts. Pour into prepared pans. Bake at 350 for 70-80 minutes, until the cracks on the top look dry and/or a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then turn out onto a rack and cool completely. Freezes great!